The milkman returns: Man starts milk delivery service

Jonathon Flaum, owner of Farm to Home Milk, puts ice in a cooler before placing the items at a customers doorstep. Flaum delivers milk and local food items to the Asheville area, including Fletcher.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By Mark SchulmanTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 1:31 p.m.

ARDEN— Jonathon Flaum needed a change from his desk-jockey position in the corporate sector. He decided to fulfill an old-time tradition and become a milkman, delivering products from his refrigerated truck to doorsteps in Western North Carolina.

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Flaum, 44, started Farm to Home Milk in January. The company brings bottled farm glasses of milk to residents and businesses and with its success, the Asheville resident recently expanded his route to Fletcher and plans to have a central drop-off location in Hendersonville.

In addition to milk, customers can order eggs, bread, meat, poultry and much more from the company that boasts the slogan "Udderly Fresh Milk."

"I love the physical work and like making people happy," Flaum said. "If customers want something good, I can bring it."

Flaum cranks up the milk truck on Mondays, drives to Chapel Hill to pick up milk from Maple View Farm and returns to the mountains to make deliveries through the remainder of the week.

He's had nothing less than positive feedback from his customers.

"People have been so supportive," he said. "It's been great."

Priscilla Gamblin, 56, of Fletcher has been getting milk and other items such as hamburger and bread delivered to her home since Flaum started his business.

"It is incredible," she said about the service, food and milk.

Gamblin grew up with milk delivery.

"It is refreshing to have that again," she said.

The company delivers mostly to the Asheville and northern Henderson County area and sets up drop off locations in other areas in Western North Carolina.

The entire Flaum family is involved in the business of delivering the pasteurized and homogenized milk along with a selection of other food products that come from the region.

Flaum's 11-year-old son, Ren, handles the upkeep for Farm to Home Milk's website while his daughter, 7-year-old Eve, acts as the company's chief salesperson.

"She is so proud of what we are doing, she tells everyone," Flaum said.

It's important to him that his children, and his wife of 17 years, Tami, are involved in keeping the company's wheels rolling.

"I wanted to do something that was family oriented, and this fit the bill," Flaum said.

"There are so many people producing high-quality food in Western North Carolina that makes this company feasible," Flaum said. "This is a testament to local food and the personal connection from farmer to delivery."

For more information visit www.farmtohomemilk.com or call 828-225-1900.

Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.

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